TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The State Library of Kansas is using Facebook to complain about major publishers’ policies regarding e-books at libraries.
Library officials contend that six large publishing firms refuse to sell some titles as e-books to libraries, or charge higher rates for popular books.
State librarian Jo Budler told The Wichita Eagle the library needed to explain to the public why some popular books are not available as e-books. Some of the e-books not available include “Harry Potter,” and “The Signal and the Noise” by political forecaster Nate Silver.
The Facebook page also lists e-books that are available to libraries, but at prices up to $85 a copy.
The site names publishers Hachette, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Simon Schuster; and Random House and Penguin Group, which are merging their operations.
